Maybe you rushed through registration and picked a course you no longer want. Maybe your score came out lower than expected and your first choice school suddenly feels out of reach. Either way, you are now wondering if it is too late to fix it.
It usually is not. JAMB opens a correction window most years that lets candidates change the course or institution they originally selected during UTME registration. Knowing how to change course or institution on JAMB properly can save an admission cycle that felt lost.
Here is how the process works, what it costs, and the rules that catch candidates off guard.
Know the Difference Between the Two Changes
Change of institution and change of course are two separate corrections, and candidates sometimes assume applying for one automatically covers the other. It does not, and mixing them up can leave part of your original registration unchanged.
Change of institution means you change the school you first chose to another university, polytechnic or college of education. You can either keep your course or change it separately. Change of course means switching to a different programme, either at your current institution or alongside a new one. You can apply for either one on its own, or both together if you need to update both your school and your programme.
Decide clearly which one you actually need before starting the process, since applying for the wrong type wastes both your fee and valuable time during a limited correction window.
Check the Rules Before You Start
A number of candidates begin the process without checking JAMB’s underlying rules first, only to have their request rejected or ignored later. Knowing these rules upfront saves you from a wasted attempt.
You generally cannot switch to a course whose cut off mark is higher than your current score, since JAMB’s system filters this automatically before any human even reviews the request. If your score is 190 and the course you want typically needs 220, the system will not let your profile appear on that department’s list at all. Confirm realistic cut off marks for your intended course using tools like the aggregate calculators for UNILAG, UI, and LASU before deciding on your new choice.
You also cannot request a change once you have already accepted an admission offer on CAPS, so this window closes the moment you take that action. JAMB typically allows a limited number of changes per candidate in a cycle, so treat each attempt seriously rather than adjusting your choice repeatedly out of indecision.
Follow the Actual Steps on the Portal
The process itself runs through JAMB’s official e-Facility portal, and going through unofficial websites or agents to “speed up” the process puts your registration details at real risk.
Log in to the e-Facility portal using the same email address registered during your original UTME registration, then locate the correction of data or change of course and institution option on your dashboard. Select whether you are changing your institution, your course, or both, and choose your new preference from the available list, checking that your subject combination matches what the new course requires.
After submitting your request online, pay the required correction fee through the approved payment channels on the portal. Fees are set by JAMB each cycle and can change from year to year, so confirm the current amount directly on your portal rather than relying on a figure from a previous year.
Complete Biometric Verification at an Accredited Centre
Submitting the request online is usually not the final step. For most recent cycles, JAMB has required candidates to complete a biometric thumbprint verification at an accredited CBT centre before the change is fully processed, and skipping this step leaves your correction incomplete no matter what the portal shows.
Visit an accredited JAMB CBT centre near you with your transaction ID, payment confirmation, registration number, and the SIM card registered to your JAMB profile. After your thumbprint is verified, collect a printed slip confirming the change was completed, and keep it safely alongside your other admission documents.
Avoid attempting the entire process purely from home on your phone or computer if a physical verification step is required for that cycle, since some candidates report their new course or institution failing to reflect properly on CAPS without it. Confirm the current requirement on your own portal before assuming either method is sufficient.
Time It Before Post UTME Registration Closes
Change requests submitted too late in the admission cycle often arrive after institutions have already begun their Post UTME screening or admission processing, which can mean the change is not recognized in time to matter.
Apply for your change as early as possible once you have decided, ideally before Post UTME registrations open at your new target institution. A change that reflects on CAPS after your intended school has already closed screening for that programme does you little practical good, even if JAMB processed it successfully.
If you are unsure which new course or institution actually fits your current score and interests, the decision framework in how to choose the right course and university in JAMB applies just as directly to a correction as it does to a first time registration.
Consider Whether a Change Is Actually the Right Move
Not every disappointing situation calls for a change of course or institution. Sometimes a different path, like accepting your current offer and pursuing an internal switch after your first year, or exploring polytechnic and direct entry routes, fits your situation better than starting the correction process over.
Weigh your options fully before committing to a change, especially since each attempt costs both money and time within a limited window. The broader set of alternatives, including related courses, other universities, and direct entry paths, is covered in what to do if you don’t meet the cut off mark, which pairs well with this guide if your situation involves a genuinely low score rather than simply a change of mind.
Conclusion
Learning how to change course or institution on JAMB comes down to understanding the difference between the two, checking the score and timing rules before you start, following the correct steps on the official portal, and completing any required verification promptly. Rushing or skipping a step can cost you the correction window entirely.
If you are considering a change, log in to your e-Facility portal today and check whether the correction window is currently open. Acting early gives you the best chance of the new choice reflecting in time for admission processing.